市

shì

亠 + 巾

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

shì (noun) market; marketplace

shì (noun) city

Etymology

Origin unclear. 止 represents the sound.

About

The origin of 市 is unclear; 止 (zhǐ) represents the sound. The modern character combines 亠 and 巾 (jīn, "cloth"). Historically, it referred to a designated trading area, a marketplace or bazaar where people gathered to buy and sell goods. As settlements expanded into urban centers around these commercial hubs, the meaning broadened to denote a city or municipality while retaining the economic sense of a market.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是一个大城市。

Zhè shì yī gè dà chéngshì.

This is a big city.

市场有很多人。

Shìchǎng yǒu hěn duō rén.

There are many people in the market.

我在市中心工作。

Wǒ zài shì zhōngxīn gōngzuò.

I work in the city center.

这个城市很漂亮。

Zhège chéngshì hěn piàoliang.

This city is very beautiful.

我们去超市买东西。

Wǒmen qù chāoshì mǎi dōngxi.

We go to the supermarket to buy things.

市政府公布了新政策。

Shì zhèngfǔ gōngbù le xīn zhèngcè.

The city government announced a new policy.

市场经济在中国发展很快。

Shìchǎng jīngjì zài Zhōngguó fāzhǎn hěn kuài.

The market economy is developing rapidly in China.

城市规划需要考虑环境保护。

Chéngshì guīhuà xūyào kǎolǜ huánjìng bǎohù.

Urban planning needs to consider environmental protection.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亠

Component: 巾

Example Words